Yarn winding apparatus



Jan. 14, 1969 F. H. HANNA YARN WINDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 20, 1966 IN VEN TOR. 3 BY Fran/r H. Han/70 t I Aflomey United States Patent 015cc 3,421,191 Patented Jan. '14, 1969 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to apparatus for transmitting drive power to flanged spoois utilized in winding yarn, which apparatus enables the expeditious loading and unloading of beams, for example, into a warping apparatus or beamer. The drive adapter is employed in combination with a warping apparatus or the like having a drive mechanism which imparts a rotational force to the adapter. Such force is transmitted by means of one or more lugs which are accommodated in one or more corresponding orifices in the drive adapter thereby engaging said drive adapter for rotational movement. The drive adapter is engaged with a flanged spool or beam by means of at least one protruding element aflixed on the drive adapter which element extends into and thereby engages apertures in the spool or beam.

This invention relates to apparatus for Winding yarn on flanged spools or the like, and more particularly, to apparatus for transmitting drive power to flanged spools utilized in winding yarn. The term yarn is used in a generic sense inasmuch as the apparatus is useful in winding natural or synthetic filaments or fibers, as well as metal, wire and the like.

In the winding or warping of yarn, said yarn is laid on the spool or beam in successive layers. Generally, all looms utilize warps as the only means of accommodating thousands of ends with minimum trouble and space. A warp is an accumulation of ends wound parallel to each other under controlled conditions of speed, tension, density, etc. A good warp should give a smooth surface and deliver the yarn sheet at a uniform tension without trapping or dragging any of its ends. In order to accomplish this, the art has developed a variety of techniques of warping in order to produce an acceptable warp.

In the present state of the art, the yarn is capable of being wound directly on to the beam or spool at extremely high speeds, inasmuch as the apparatus utilized has become a complex, largely automatic apparatus designed to produce beams uniform in all respects. A particularly critical area, in view of the element of time with respect to the facility of changing said beams. is found with regard to the device utilized for transmitting drive power to said beams in the warping operation.

Heretofore, the drive has been transmitted to the beams through a drive adapter which has been positioned on the journal spindle at either or both ends of the beam to be driven. This device was usually of a circular planar configuration, i.e., conforming generally with the flanges of the beams or spools. The drive adapter has had one or more apertures so located so as to receive a corresponding driving lug rotated by the driving mechanism of the warper or beamer which positions and rotates the drive adapter and the beam as to accomplish the winding yarn onto it. The driving force of the beamer apparatus has been transmitted by said lug or lugs to the platelike drive adapter which has been fastened by bolts or similar means to the journal and spindle of the beam or spool.

Inasmuch as said beams have been warped at extremely high speeds, the loading and unloading thereof to and from the warping mechanism has become an element, with regard to time, of importance. Accordingly, it has been found that the fastening of the drive adapter by means of bolts to the journal and spindle of the beam has been unduly time consuming and, thus, disadvantageous to the overall warping operation.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which enables the expeditious loading and unloading of beams into a Warping apparatus or beamer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drive adapter which i more readily secured to a beam or spool.

A further object of this invention is to provide a drive adapter which overcomes the limitations ensuing from the use of bolts to secure said drive adapter to the journal spindle of a beam or spool.

Other objects of the invention will be obvious from the following disclosure.

In accordance with the invention, the above objects are accomplished by a novel drive adapter which is employed in combination with a warping apparatus having a drive mechanism which imparts a rotational force to the adapter. Such force is transmitted by means of one or more lugs which are accommdated in one or more corresponding orifices in the drive adapter and thus engages said drive adapter for rotational movement. Said drive adapter is engaged with a flanged spool or beam for rotational movement about the axis of said drive adapter and said spool.

In order to be operable with the present invention, said spools must be comprised of flanges having a plurality of radially disposed ribs therein. The number of ribs is not critical, but generally such spools may have from about 8 to 24 ribs. It is critical, however, that the flanges of the spools used in combination with the drive adapter of the present invention comprise ribs or apertures so as to suitably engage the drive adapter of this invention.

In accordance with the present invention, such drive adapter comprises a planar member, preferably circular, having a centrally located aperture for the accommodation of a spindle which extends from said flanged spool and through said aperture, thus allowing for rotational movement about a common axis provided by said spindle. The planar member has at least one protruding element aflixed on the face thereof, said element being on that side of the member adjacent to the outer face of the spool flange. The element is of such configuration so as to extend into that area defined by a pair of radially disposed ribs and thereby engage said flanged spool. The planar member is also provided with at least one orifice for the accommodation of a lug extending from the above-mentioned drive mechanism. Accordingly, rotational movement, provided by the drive mechanism, is

transmitted through the drive adapter of the present invention and, in turn, to the flanged spool or beam engaged therewith.

The invention will be further understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and detailed description following. In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a drive adapter embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation corresponding to FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view ilustrating the manner in which an embodiment of the drive adapter of this invention is engaged with the ribs of a flanged spool.

The planar member comprising the drive adapter of the present invention may be of any configuration, e.g., circular, square, hexagonal, octagonal, etc. but, preferably, is circular and of the same general dimensions as the beam or spool flanges with which it engages. This member is suitably fabricated from metal, e.g., aluminum, but may, conceivably, be fabricated from reinforced, highimpact plastic. The material is a practical determination based on the size, frequency of use, etc.

In accordance with the invention, the planar member is provided with one or more, but preferably four, protruding elements which are afiixed on that face of the planar member which is to be positioned adjacent to the outside face of the spool flange. These elements are of such a configuration so as to be accommodated by at least a portion of that area defined by each pair of radially extending ribs. It is important that the elements be positioned between the ribs securely so that rotational forces may be applied to the beam in either direction, i.e., clockwise or counterclockwise. The fit of the elements and the adjacent ribs becomes extremely important in stopping the beaming operation as brakes are applied in the drive mechanism and forces are consequently applied against the ribs in reverse order to overcome the beam momentum. Thus, a truncated triangle represents the preferred configuration for an element. In order to engage the ribs of said flange securely, the elements are preferably beveled on those faces which abut the ribs and therefore engage same through a snubbing action. Similarly, a resil ient plastic or other hard elastic material may be employed in the fabrication of the elements to provide said snubbing action. Generally, said elements are affixed to the planar member by conventional means, e.g., machine screws, etc. Said elements may be positioned anywhere on the planar surface of said drive adapter as long as they are able to engage a corresponding area defined by the ribs of the flange. It is preferred, however, that they are positioned equidistant about the peripheral edge of said member and most preferably, if four are employed, central to the four quadrants of the circular planar member.

The planar member is also provided with one or more apertures which accommodate the lugs of the drive mechanism which provides the rotational force necessary to turn the drive adapter and flanged spool engaged therewith. The number of said apertures must at least correspond to the number of lugs extending from the drive mechanism. Preferably, each of said apertures is provided with a bushing which allows for a more suitable engagement with a lug and precludes unnecessary wear to the body of the planar member of the drive adapter. It is preferred that the collar of said bushing is also positioned on that face of the planar member facing the outer portion of the spool flange. It has been found that provision for four apertures to accommodate four correspondings lugs is most suitable.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 3 and to the preferred embodiment disclosed therein, the drive adapter apparatus comprises a planar or base member 2 having a central aperture 4 which accommodates a spindle 6 extending from the spool 8. Said aperture 4 is preferably provided with a journal 10 through which spindle 6 is inserted. If

desired, a recess 12 is provided which generally conforms to the configuration of a journal 14 of said spool and thus accommodates said journal of said spool and ensures a more suitable alignment and connection.

Around the peripheral edge of said member 2 are preferably positioned four protruding elements 16 which correspond with the area 18 defined by ribs 20. Said elements are preferably provided with beveled edges 22 so as to engage said ribs 20 by a snubbing action. Said elements are removably affixed to said member by machine screws 24. As illustrated, said elements are positioned equidistant about the peripheral edge of the planar member, i.e., central to the four quadrants of same.

The planar member is also preferably provided with apertures 26 preferably four, which engage the lugs of the drive mechanism (not shown) and which cause the rotational movement of the drive adapter. Said apertures 26 are preferably provided with bushings 28, suitably of steel, which are aflixed to said planar member by means of machine screws 30.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a combination with: (1) a warping apparatus having a drive mechanism with at least one lug positioned thereon and (2) with a flanged spool, the flanges of which have a plurality of radially disposed ribs; a drive adapter comprising:

(a) a regular planar member having a central aperture for the accommodation of a spindle extending from said spool and through said aperture;

(b) at least one protruding element positioned on that face of said planar member adjacent the outer face of the spool flange, said element being of such configuration so as to extend into the area between each pair of radially disposed ribs and thereby engage said spool;

(c) at least one orifice for the accommodation of a lug of said drive mechanism whereby said drive adapter is engaged with said drive mechanism for axi'al rotation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said protruding elements are four in number and are positioned at the peripheral edge of and central to the four quadrants of said planar member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the faces 'of said protruding elements which abut the radially disposed ribs are beveled so as to engage said ribs with a snub bing action.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said protruding elements are fabricated from a resilient plastic.

5. A warping apparatus having a drive mechanism with a plurality of lugs positioned thereon and a flanged spool, the flanges of which have a plurality of radially disposed ribs, said spool being axially connected to said drive mechanism by means of a drive adapter, said drive adapter comprising:

(a) a circular planar member having a central aperture for the accommodation of a spindle extending from said spool and through said aperture;

(b) a plurality of protruding elements positioned on that face of said planar member adjacent the outer face of the spool flange, said element being of a truncated triangular configuration so as to extend into and substantially fill the area defined between each pair of radially disposed ribs and thereby engage said spool;

(c) a plurality of orifices for the accommodation of a corresponding number of lugs aflixed to said drive 3,421,191 5 6 mechanism whereby said drive adapter is engaged References Cited with said drive mechanism for axial rotation. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said protruding UNITED STATES PATENTS elements are four in number and are positioned at the 2,963,767 12/1960 Freeze 28-39 X peripheral edge of and central to the four quadrants of r 2,998,878 9/1961 Biedinger et a1. 242-683 X said planar member. 0 3,117,360 1/ 1964 Kirnpton 28-32 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the faces of said 3,145,823 8/1964 Spradlin 242-71.8 X

protruding elements which abut the radially disposed ribs are beveled so 'as to engage said ribs with a snubbing LOUIS K. RIMRODT, Rrimary Examiner. action.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said protruding 10 elements are fabricated from a resilient plastic. 242-71.8 

